Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia facts and figures

Saudi Arabia's National Day

23 September

The Middle Eastern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia straddles the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq in the north and Oman and Yemen in the south. It is the 14th largest country in the world covering around two million square kilometres, making it the second largest OPEC Member Country. Saudi Arabia has a population of almost 30 million, more than three and a half million of whom live in the capital, Riyadh. Arabic is the official language.

Saudi Arabia possesses 18 per cent of the world’s proven petroleum reserves and ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum. The oil and gas sector accounts for about 50 per cent of gross domestic product, and about 85 per cent of export earnings. Apart from petroleum, the Kingdom’s other natural resources include natural gas, iron ore, gold, and copper.

The national currency is the riyal.

The Sovereign is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques HM King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Saudi Arabia is a Founder Member of OPEC.

Did you know?

Saudi Arabia’s is home to the world’s largest continuous sand desert – the Rub Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter.

Oil was first struck in Saudi Arabia in March 1938, at a depth of 1,440 metres in the Dammam oilfield.